All mic preamps included in my reviews were selected based on their widespread use and reputation in the professional music community and from personal use and knowledge.

I’ve also added my insights gained from my 25+ years of experience running a very successful music production company, plus working with dozens of composers and thousands of tracks for my Audio Addiction Music Library, a production music library with global distribution.

Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Microphone Preamp For Your Home Studio

Single-Channel Mic Preamps:

Channel Strip Mic Preamps

Avalon mic preamps are celebrated for the remarkable depth and warmth they add to recordings.

The VT-737SP is Avalon’s flagship mic pre that was the winner of the 1999 EM Editors Choice Award for Best Preamp and the 2015 Readers Choice Award for Best Outboard Gear.

It’s an all-tube channel strip that combines a tube mic pre with an opto-compressor and a 4-band sweepable EQ in a double space 2U full rack enclosure.

It features Class A circuitry for the best possible sound quality.

I bought my VT-737SP in 2005, and it has been an incredible investment that had more than paid for itself over the years.

It has powered many of my vocal sessions, acoustic guitar tracks, guitar overdubs, drum and percussion recordings, and more over the years for commercials, film scores, trailers, records, and production library work.

It’s built like a tank – it weights over 22 lbs. – and I remember struggling to get it mounted my rack when I bought it.

It has never left my studio since…

Features

Sometimes a picture ( or video) is worth a thousand words. The following video will walk you through the basic features:

Final Thoughts

The VT-737SP is an amazing-sounding channel strip that will give your tracks that smooth, luxurious sound you’ve always wanted.

Because it has tons of features, it does take some time to find the best settings for recording vocals and various instruments. Thankfully, the user manual does include some sample settings for recording vocals and some popular instruments.

The VT-737Sp is not cheap, but if you want to move your tracks to the next level, it will definitely help you create the best sounding recordings you can.

FYI, two VT-737SPs can be linked via a rear panel link cable for stereo tracking. That’s a very serious stereo signal chain!

How Does It Sound?

The Mic Pre Equalizer delivers clean, vibrant, professional sounding tracks – exactly what you would expect in a mic pre at this price point.

Whether recording vocals or instruments, the circuitry enhances the natural sound source in a very musical way. It doesn’t add much color to a track but rather just makes it sound great with beautiful detail and clarity.

Audio Examples

You can hear demos on guitars, bass, vocals, and more at the site below. Just click on Preamps and then choose the Daking Mic Pre Equalizer:

Final Thoughts

The Daking Mic Pre Equalizer is a powerful addition to any studio. The pristine sound quality and flexible EQ let you shape and hone your tracks to sound their very best. It should be at the top of your list!

There are also two high-voltage (130V) XLR connectors for use only with certain B&K audiophile microphones.

How Does It Sound?

The HV-3C delivers uncompromising audio for the most transparent audiophile-level sound available.

Below are some pro audio reviews of the HV-3C:

“My jaws fell open when I first switched to the HV-3 Series stereo mic pre. Its presence and clarity were outstanding. A solo voice sounded extremely immediate, and had an almost palpably “real” quality. The low end was very tight, showed good extension and “slam,” while the high end was detailed in the extreme, without the least amount of harshness…” Pro Audio Review

“…The HV-3 Series stereo mic pre provided an absolutely faithful rendition of the microphone’s sound, without imparting any coloration of its own… An excellent value offering impeccable audio specs, first-rate construction, and sonic transparency under any conditions. The Millennia Media HV-3 is… for those who seek absolute purity in reproduction.” MIX Magazine, George Petersen, Editorial Director

“The Millennia HV-3 stereo mic pre sounds best of the units evaluated. We found the HV-3… to be transparent in the extreme. The security of such a large dynamic range, excellent quality, etc. will be hard to beat….” Studio Sound UK

“The best-sounding piano recording I’ve ever done. The detail and sense of immediacy was phenomenal… the coolest, quietest vocal chain I’ve ever hooked up in my studio. There was no end to the headroom.” EQ Magazine

“For sonic accuracy, transparency, and realism (i.e. least amount of coloration), the HV-3 leads the pack. This is the unit I’d choose for live stereo recordings of jazz, classical, or any other style of music for which sonic realism is desirable. The precisely stepped gain controls make it a snap to match stereo levels, and the high headroom allows for dynamic surprises… The last word in clean, accurate, transparent audio.” Electronic Musician Magazine [in-depth blind listening test of numerous mic preamps]

“Over a period of months, I used the HV-3 on all types of sessions, ranging from stereo-miked chamber ensembles to multi-track pop sessions. In all cases, the HV-3 provided an absolutely faithful rendition of the microphone’s sound, without imparting any coloration of its own… An excellent value offering impeccable audio specs, first-rate construction, and sonic transparency under any conditions. The Millennia Media HV-3 is…for those who seek absolute purity in reproduction.” MIX Magazine, Feature Review By George Petersen, Editor

The following video demonstrates the HV-3C on acoustic guitar:

Recording Acoustic Guitar – Millennia HV-3C

Final Thoughts

This is a serious mic pre for the highest level of sound quality. This, or course, is reflected in its price. But if you’re looking for the best transparent sound available today, the HV-3C should be at the top of your list.

Today he runs Rupert Neve Designs, his company that continues to produce top-quality pro audio gear for professional and home recordists.

The Neve Portico 5012 is one of 8 mic preamps in the Portico line. As stated on the Rupertneve.com site:

Portico modules embody new Rupert-designed transformers, very short audio paths, minimal negative feedback and discrete single-sided transformer-coupled outputs that leave no possibility of crossover distortion. They are built to work together in a variety of configurations – compatible with any existing high-quality transformer-coupled vintage modules, including the genuine range of my original units.

Such modules may be confidently included in the Portico chain with the sure knowledge that the sound of your favorite classic module will not be diminished. That being said, the Portico Range marks a return to a more colored sound without yielding anything to fidelity! Rest assured that it has all of the characteristics that are so sought after in the vintage designs without any of the maintenance nightmares.

The Portico 5012 is a half-rack, dual-channel solid-state mic pre. It delivers the classic Neve sound known for its warmth, fullness, and vintage tone.

Features

On the front panel, each channel has Input and Trim controls, a mute button, and a Buss send button. The Buss output is intended for use with the Portico Buss Amp/Monitoring modules.

Each channel also has a fully variable high-pass filter, 48V phantom power, and a phase invert button.

The rear panel has balanced XLR inputs and outputs.

How Does It Sound?

I own a Portico 5015, which is basically a single channel 5012 with an added compressor module.

In a nutshell, it just sounds great on just about everything I put through it – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, mandolin, and more.

The Portico 5012, like the 5015, gives tracks that “larger than life” sound that distinguishes Neve products.

The coloration it adds is musical and appealing. The sound is not transparent and not really “tube-like” – it’s in-between, with powerful lows, smooth round mids, and bright, airy highs.

Engaging the Silk feature adds a vintage sound character that increases the unit’s total flexibility.

Quite a few reviewers said that tracks need little EQ in their mixes after being sent through the 5012. Many commented that they thought it sounded better than a 1073, which is a huge claim to make!

Final Thoughts

The Portico 5012 is high-performance mic pre for anyone who wants to add that magical Neve sound to their recordings.

It sounds great on virtually everything, though for purist classical recordings it might be a little too colored.

The 5012’s main drawback is that it does not have a DI input. But if you are willing to live without that, you won’t be disappointed by its sound and performance.

API is a leader in the professional audio community, with a legacy of having played a significant role in the development of recorded music since the 1960s.

API products are found in thousands of recording studios and broadcast studios worldwide, and the famed “API Analog Sound” has been a part of many hit records over the last 50 years.

API continues that heritage of premium quality products with the 3124+ mic pre.

It’s a single rack space, 4-channel mic/line preamp that delivers the API sound that is coveted by both pro and home studio owners around the world.

Features

The 3124+ features the same premium RE-115 K mic input transformer and the proprietary output transformer found in all API mic preamps.

On the front panel, each channel has a Gain control, plus polarity, 48K phantom power, -20dB pad, and mic/line switches.

Each channel also has a front panel ¼” high-impedance line input.

On the rear panel, each channel has balanced XLR mic inputs and outputs, and an Insert jack. There are also ¼” jacks for an Aux Send/Return and two ¼” Stereo left/right jacks.

How Does It Sound?

The 3124+ is an outstanding performer on just about every sound source, but many users feel it really excels on electric guitars, drums, and percussion. It’s able to handle instruments with hard transients well while making them sound larger than life.

That said, many a vocal track on hit records was sent through an API mic pre…

Driving the mic pre hard really brings out the vaunted “API sound” by accentuating the harmonic saturation, especially in the mid-range.

The following video showcases the 3124+ on a drum kit. The 3124+ demo starts at 3:13.

Mic Preamp Shootout – Drum Overheads

Final Thoughts

What’s the only thing better than an API mic preamp?

4 channels of API mic preamps!

Simply put, the 3124+ is a world-class mic pre that delivers the legendary sound and punch that API is known for.

Its mic pre design is the same as those found in SSL’s flagship Duality console that sells in the six figures.

The mic pre features SSL patented Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) circuit that can be blended into the signal path for lots of tonal flexibility.

Features

The Alpha VHD-Pre is housed in a single-space 19” rack enclosure and has a refined, sleek look.

On the front panel, each channel has Input and Output controls, and a VHD (Variable Harmonic Drive) control.

Each channel also has a ¼” instrument input jack and buttons for high-impedance, a 20dB pad, and 48V phantom power.

There is no traditional VU or LED metering, but the Pad switch includes a light which flashes red if the signal is overloading the input.

The rear panel has balanced XLR mic/line inputs and XLR outputs.

How Does It Sound?

SSL has always lived by the motto that a great mic pre should be designed to deliver the cleanest uncolored sound possible. In their view, you can always add color to a sound later, but you can’t easily take any color away once you record.

The Alpha VHD-Pre, of course, delivers that ultra-clean sound that SSL is known for.

But with the view of expanding their sonic viewpoint, they have added the VHD control. The VHD circuit is designed to add 2nd and 3rd order harmonic distortion, which gives a very musical and usable warmth to the sound.

The following video demonstrates some audio examples of the VHD in action on bass and drum kit, starting at 1:17.

The following quote from Hugh Robjohns, Technical Editor of Sound on Sound (SOS) Magazine sums up the majority of users thoughts on the M201:

“The Grace m201 is, in every way, a stunning microphone preamp. The build quality is uber-impressive, the feature set is comprehensive, the options are well thought out, the A/D stage sounds sublime, and the preamp itself is about as good as it gets.”

SOS magazine even stated that if their Technical Editor “calls a product ‘awesome,’ ‘stunning’ and ‘sublime,’ it’s probably time to sit up and take notice…”

Focusrite started making their ISA (Input Signal Amplifier) mic preamps in 1985 when founder Rupert Neve (of Neve fame) was commissioned by George Martin (of Beatles fame) to create new mic preamp modules for the recording consoles at AIR Montserrat Studios.

One of those modules, the legendary ISA110, gathered so much praise for its sound that Focusrite decided to make standalone mic preamps to reach a wider audience.

The 4-channel solid-state Focusrite ISA 428 MkII mic pre is based on the ISA110 module and has the celebrated Lundahl LL1538 input transformer that helps define the Focusrite sound.

The Mark II second generation of this mic pre adds additional features that are highly desired for modern recording sessions.

Features

On the front panel, each channel has a Gain control, Gain Trim control, and variable high-pass filter.

Each channel also has buttons for +30db or +60db gain, 48V phantom power, phase reverse, and Insert. These buttons are backlit for ease of viewing.

There is a separate front panel section with buttons to choose mic, line, or instrument input source, plus a high-impedance selector switch with 4 different settings, including the vintage ISA110 which provides the original classic Focusrite sound.

On the far left, four ¼” jacks allow you to connect instruments without needing a DI box.

The unit also has 6-step LED metering per channel.

On the rear panel, each channel has balanced XLR and ¼” inputs, XLR output jacks, and Insert Send and Return jacks.

Optional 8-Channel A/D Converter

The ISA 428 MkII is also available with an optional 8-channel A/D converter with resolution up to 24-bit, 192kHz. The card adds 4 additional digital inputs, with ADAT Lightpipe input/output, word clock input/output and two 9-pin connectors for AES/EBU or S/PDIF.

How Does It Sound?

The ISA 428 has the clean, transparent sound you expect from Focusrite mic pres, with full-bodied lows, solid mids, and smooth, detailed highs. It also has lots of headroom.

The variable impedance settings help get the best performance out of a mic collection, and can also be used to provide some color to the sound.

The following mic preamp shootout video showcases the ISA 428 on a drum kit. It starts at 2:57.

Focusrite Preamps: LS56 vs. Octopre MKII Dyn vs. ISA 428 MKII

The next video has six-time Grammy nominated producer/writer/mixer Damian Taylor talking about the ISA 428 (and the ISA 828 8-channel version) in his studio.

The ISA 428 & 828 with Damian Taylor

Final Thoughts

The ISA 428 MkII version has made the great-sounding original unit even better. It still has the Lundahl transformers, but Focusrite has added lots of features that make this mic pre very flexible.

All in all, it’s a very cost-effective way to add 4 channels of high-quality mic preamplification to your studio.

The name Twin-Finity comes from the unit’s tone-shaping capabilities; on each channel, users can dial in vintage tube warmth or go for the high-gloss sheen that solid-state circuitry can give to the sound.

Each channel also has its own 1176-style compressor. The legendary 1176 compressor is known for its incredibly musical sound.

Finally, there is A/D conversion for both digital and analog connections to your studio setup.

Final Thoughts

The Universal Audio 4-710d is a great-sounding channel strip that gives you the warmth and musicality you expect from a tube mic pre, plus the accuracy and detail of a solid-state unit. In addition, you get 1176-style compression on each channel to give your tracks a smooth, full, rich professional sound.

If you need 4 channels of top-quality mic preamps but also want both tube and solid-state options, then the 4-710d should be on your check out list.

About The Author

Michael is a veteran award-winning composer, publisher, and producer. He is the owner of The Music Kitchen and Audio Addiction Music Library, a production music library with worldwide distribution. You can learn more about him on the About page.